For it is not sufficient merely to commit these things to memory, like other matters; they must be practically tested. He is not happy who only knows them, but he who does them.
Seneca 75
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
James 1.22-25
Let’s be honest, most of the time we know what we SHOULD do. We just don’t do it. Listening to these ancient authors it seems humans must have always been this way so don’t be too hard on yourself.
You know what you should eat or not eat, that you need to exercise, that you should sleep more, that you should volunteer or x, y, and z. The real question is why aren’t you doing it? That why is going to be different for everyone, but you need to ask yourself that question. Take time to think over what has motivated you to take action in the past that has lasted.
It is easy to make ourselves feel like we are doing something by simply learning about the right way to do something. But learning is easy and doesn’t change anything. Only doing what is right will change yours and others’ lives.
For some laughter here’s my favorite Seinfeld depiction of understanding what to do verse actually doing it 😂
